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July 1,
1961 |
The Honorable Diana Frances Spencer is born, the third daughter of Viscount
and Viscountess Althorp. (Eighteen months before Diana arrived, her mother gave birth to a son, John, who lived for only 10 hours.) When Diana is 3, her younger brother, Charles, is born.
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1969 |
Diana's parents divorce, and her father wins custody of the children. The children are raised in the rambling country home of Park House on the queen's country estate in Sandringham, Norfolk, and the Spencer family home, Althorp House, just north of London.
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1975 |
Diana's father becomes the eighth Earl Spencer upon his own father's death, and her title becomes Lady Diana Spencer.
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1979 |
Diana moves to London, where she works as a nanny and then a kindergarten teacher. Her father pays for her apartment, which she shares with three friends.
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1980 |
Charles, the Prince of Wales, asks Diana for a date, to watch him play polo. The couple begins a romance, and the press dubs the demure Diana "Shy Di."
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1981 |
Charles proposes to Diana in February, presenting her with an engagement ring of an 18-carat sapphire surrounded by diamonds. Millions watch worldwide on television as Charles and Diana exchange vows at St. Paul's Cathedral in London on July 29.
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1982 |
William, the first child of Diana and Charles, is born June 21.
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1984 |
The second child of Charles and Diana, Harry, is born September 15.
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1986 |
Rumors start to circulate that Charles is seeing his old love, Camilla Parker-Bowles.
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1992 |
Diana's father dies in March, and her brother, Charles, becomes the new Earl Spencer.
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1992 |
Andrew Morton publishes a tell-all biography, "Diana: Her True Story," which
describes her troubles in detail, including bouts with depression, bulimia and a
suicide attempt. The book, authorized by Diana, outrages Charles.
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1992 |
In December, British Prime Minister John Major announces to Parliament that
Charles and Diana are separating.
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1995 |
In an interview on the BBC program "Panorama," Diana discusses her husband's
relationship with Parker-Bowles, admits to her own infidelity and accuses the royal family of being uncaring.
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1995 |
Queen Elizabeth demands that her son end the marriage.
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1996 |
Diana announces she will agree to an uncontested divorce in February. Charles
and Diana reach a formal settlement in July, and the divorce is finalized August 28.
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1997 |
In July, Charles hosts the 50th birthday party of his girlfriend, Parker-Bowles. Diana accepts an invitation to spend some time at the St.-Tropez villa of Egyptian multimillionaire Mohamed al-Fayed, where she is introduced to his son, Emad, better known as Dodi. The two begin a romance.
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1997 |
On August 31, Diana and Dodi Fayed die in a car crash in Paris. Her September 6 funeral is a worldwide event, with mourners lining the streets of London and millions more watching on television.
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